Tigers changed things up early in the game and put it to the Demons, but a big second term from the home team did the damage, as they ran out winners 11.10 (76) to 7.7 (49) at Crossroads Oval.

Tigers started with Campbell Lovell one-out inside their forward 50 and pushed all their numbers up the ground in a surprise start to the game.

It worked early on as Tigers got out to a three goal lead early in the second term, before the Demons found their feet and returned serve.

In the space of 16 minutes, Collingullie-GP went from three goals down to three goals up.

The old firm of Marc Geppert and Brad Aiken turned it on, capitalising on the Demons’ ascendancy up the ground, to swing the game in Collingullie’s favour.

The second half was an even contest and while Collingullie-GP maintained the ascendancy they kept Tigers with a sniff by proving a little wasteful in front of goal.

Steve Jolliffe played for the Demons, after being cleared by Wodonga Raiders on Friday, and got better as the game went on in a promising return.

Collingullie-GP captain-coach Luke Gestier was pleased to see off the challenge from the reigning premiers.

“Once again, it wasn’t the prettiest game but as I said to the boys, good sides find ways to win and once again we got the four points so it’s fantastic,” Gestier said.

“They’re a quick side and if you don’t watch out, as I said to the boys, they’ll cut us up. We were a little bit slow to adapt but once we adapted, we got on top and had the play, I thought, so it was good.”

Finding themselves at the halfway mark of the home and away season, the Demons are undefeated and one game, plus percentage, clear on top of the ladder.

Gestier said the challenge for his team now is to stay ahead of the pack, given they will now become the hunted.

“That’s all the boxes ticked so far, we’ve just got to keep going along and our head in the game,” he said.

“The second time around, they’re going to be coming after us now so we’ve got to keep ahead of the game.”

It was an even team effort from Collingullie-GP. Jayden Klemke was busy through the midfield, while Dan Kennedy and Kal Sykes were strong in defence. The only concern was injuries to Matt Beckmans (hamstring) and Will Haines (shoulder).

Tigers defender Dylan Morton and teenager Shaun Driscoll were best for the visitors, on a day where they again struggled for forwards.